The way in which the council delivers care and support for adults, families, children and carers is changing.
On April 6, 2016 the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act came into force. Whilst it is called the ‘The Social Services and Wellbeing Act’ it affects a wide range of services that the council and its partners operate. For example, under wellbeing, health and leisure services are equally as important in achieving the right outcomes for citizens as our health and social services.
The Act puts individuals at the centre of their care, giving them a significant voice in, and control over, the help and support people need to achieve what matters to them.
Significant changes are required in the way some services are delivered, and much of this work has already started. To co-ordinate this work, the council in partnership with Powys Teaching Health Board, Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations (PAVO), third sector and private provider organisations, will work in equal partnership with the people of Powys to develop sustainable services through a co-production approach.
The Act places legislative responsibilities on partners to ensure that services are available to support the full spectrum of needs of our citizens, as well as supporting the most vulnerable in our community. This will hopefully prevent/delay individuals coming into social services if their needs are met earlier and help build the resilience of individuals and their communities.
In order for the council to fulfil its requirements in relation to the Act, the council and its partners have formed a Powys Regional Partnership Board (RPB). The board is made up of key officers and members from the council, local health board, third sector organisations, private provider representation and members of the community who access services or who have a caring role.
Some of the work of the board will include:
- Producing a population assessment to analyse the needs of local citizens who have care and support needs and carers who have support needs
- Ensuring sufficient resources are available for key priority areas identified through the population assessment
- Encourage greater early intervention and prevention giving greater citizen control and ownership for their health and wellbeing
- Ensure that the voice of the local citizen is not only heard, but acted upon in equal partnership
- Encourage innovative new practices
- Integration of services that relate to health and social care
The board’s purpose is to ensure the council and other organisations engage with service users, families and carers to co-design services around their needs, and what matters most in their lives. The collaborative board will have strategic oversight and a shared commitment to ensure the requirements of the Act are followed and actioned across an all age agenda.
The newly formed board had its first meeting, hosted by PAVO on 25 April, 2016.
A range of professionals, members and citizen representations were invited to attend the first meeting.
A detailed discussion ensued on the future working arrangements of the board. Appointments were made to the chair (Amanda Lewis, Strategic Director People at PCC) and vice chairs (Carl Cooper, Chief Executive at PAVO) and Rhiannon Jones (Director of Nursing at PTHB)
In line with the ethos of the new Act, the board is more encompassing and was delighted to have such active participation from representatives of the those with care and support needs and carers with support needs working alongside officers and members.
We will continue to keep you informed of the boards work and future developments throughout the year.
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